Project ( p.73) 10 Form

Project ( p.73) 10 Form

 

From the text I learnt where Madagascar is and how big the island is. I also learnt how the island used to be part of the Indian subcontinent until about 100 million years

ago, which makes it the oldest island in the world

I would like to know more about the lemurs.

Madagascar is famous for its rare turtles and tortoises. Nine species have been identified and five of these are endangered.There are many extraordinary creatures on the island of Madagascar including a tear-sucking moth that feeds on birds’ eyes. Our group are particularly interested in lemurs.We have discovered that there are nearly 90 kinds of lemurs in

Madagascar and they are unique to the island. Some examples include the mouse lemur which is as small as a mouse, the indri which sings like a whale and the sifaka which dances on the sand like a ballerina.The aye-aye is a nocturnal lemur and the ring-tailed lemurs are striking in appearance with their long, bushy, black and white striped tails.

Conservation programmes have been set up to protect the lemurs.The changing lifestyle of the local people has meant that their environment is changing. More domestic animals on the island have brought diseases that affect the lemurs and they are also hunted by people as well as wild cats and dogs. Lemurs are also at risk from climate change and deforestation. It is hoped that ecotourism can be encouraged to provide an income for local people. In this way the deforestation can be stopped and the lemurs can be better protected. Our group are also interested in the medicinal value of

plants found on the island of Madagascar. We have discovered that one group of researchers are studying the diet of lemurs to see if they are protected from malaria by something they eat. Malaria is a disease caused by mosquitoes that kills millions of people annually. A separate study is investigating whether a plant used by traditional Madagascan healers could be used to treat the disease and save lives.